Justin Trudeau apologises after ‘brownface’ image emerges
Canadian PM admits that the photograph ‘was a racist thing to do’

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has apologised for wearing brownface make-up to a party in 2001, describing it as “a racist thing to do”.
Time magazine has published a photograph of Trudeau with brown make-up on his face, neck and hands and wearing a turban. It originally appeared in a school yearbook, while Trudeau, then 29, was working as a teacher.
He said: “I apologise profoundly. I regret it deeply. I’m deeply sorry I did that, I should have known better. It was something I should not have done. I didn’t think it was racist at the time, but now I see, it was a racist thing to do.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The scandal could hardly be more poorly timed for the Canadian prime minister. The Guardian says it marks “a potential turning point in next month’s tightly contested general election”.
The PM’s main opponent, the Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, said he was “extremely shocked and disappointed” by the photograph, and said it showed that his rival was “unfit” to lead Canada.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic party, said: “The people who see this image are going to think about all the times in their life that they were made fun of, that they were hurt... that they were insulted, that they were made to feel less, because of who they are.”
Green party leader, Elizabeth May, said she was also “deeply shocked” and demanded that Trudeau apologised.
As Trudeau did just that, he also revealed that when he was in high school he dressed up for a talent show and sang Day O, a traditional Jamaican folk song, “with make-up on”.
He said: “Obviously I regret that I did it. I’m pissed off at myself, obviously.”
What effect the incident has on the 21 October general election remains to be seen, but Trudeau can ill afford any problems in what is proving to be a tight race. Opinion polls suggest he and Scheer are deadlocked in the popular vote.
Time magazine says Trudeau “has championed minority groups” in office and “made his embrace of Canada’s many cultures a major part of his leadership”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why are student loan borrowers falling behind on payments?
Today's Big Question Delinquencies surge as the Trump administration upends the program
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Not there yet: The frustrations of the pocket AI
Feature Apple rushes to roll out its ‘Apple Intelligence’ features but fails to deliver on promises
By The Week US Published
-
George Foreman: The boxing champ who reinvented home grills
Feature He helped define boxing’s golden era
By The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mark Carney: the banker turned prime minister who will lead Canada
In the Spotlight Carney was elected as the new leader of the Liberal Party, replacing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Mark Carney selected next Canadian prime minister
Speed Read The political novice will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade war
Speed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'Restricting what an agent can know and respond to reduces its competitiveness'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What's next for Canada after Trudeau's resignation?
Talking Points An election. But not just yet.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published